Coding and decoding apparatus



3 J. A. HEBs'r 2,127,733

CODING AND DECODING APRARA'I US Filed Oct. 26, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR John .19. Herbsl ww M ATTORNEYS Aug. 23, 1938.

DECODER J. A. H ERBST CODING AND DECODING APPARATUS Filed 001;. 26, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 owwwmhhum-g C! L *K M} 1 A 3 i A Jt 11i TRANSMITTER STORAGE INDICATOR INVENTOR John fl. Herbsi I BYWMJI 01.0945 N ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 23, 1938 CODING AND DECODING APPARATUS John A. Herbst, River Vale, N. J., assignorto The Teleregister Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 26, 1932, Serial No. 639,548

3 Claims. (01. 177-353) This invention relates to a coding and decoding apparatus more particularly adapted for ascertaining the position of a mechanically or electromagnetically settable storage unit or the II like.

Among the objects of this invention are the provision of means for ascertaining the posi-- tion of a settable device over a small number of line channels at a point which may be remote from the settable device.

A more specific object of the invention is the purposes of illustrating the principles of this,

invention, and in which Fig. l is a longitudinal horizontal section of an electromagnetically settable storage unit ineluding a coding apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side view of said unit;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 shows a double armed brush;

Fig. 6 shows a general wiring diagram of the transmitter, storage and coding devices, and the decoding device and indicating means;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to those of 35 Figs. 1 and 2, showing a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 shows the various circuit closing cams of said second embodiment;

Fig. 10 shows the wiring diagram of the secand embodiment; and

Fig. 11 shows the. code table for the second modification.

Various features of the storage unit shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and 7 and 8 may be of the 43 same construction as shown in an application of Merton L. Haselton, Ser. No. 423,599, filed January 27, 1930, Patent No. 2,049,499, dated August 4, 1936, and may include an indicator drum of the character shown in said appli- 50 cation.

mestorage unit disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a U-shaped frame It on which is -mounted a shaft II to which is secured a ratchet wheel l2 operated by an operating fork it which u is suitably pivoted in the frame on a rod l4 passing through the rear end of the fork and through an extension on an armature l5 formed on said fork. An operatingmagnet 16 secured to the base of the U-shaped frame Iii upon energization attracts the armature l5 and operates the fork ii to move the ratchet wheel i2 and shaft Ii counterclockwise, Fig. 1, and upon deenergization of the magnet IS the fork I3 is rocked by means of a spring il in a counter,- clockwise direction into the position shown in Fig. 1, during which movement it operates the ratchet wheel and shaft farther in a counterclockwise direction into a position of adjustment.

As shown in said application, the shaft may carry an indicator which consists of a drum seured on the shaft in the position indicated by the disk It in Fig. 2 which, for the purpose of this invention, may itself be provided with indicia i to 9 and 0 and blank, providing for a blank space between the 0 and the i, for use in indicating systems in which several of the units are placed side by side to indicate a number.

As to certain features of the invention, the

indic a bearing member may be omitted and the number of positions of the settable member may be varied. However, for the purpose of disclosure the shaft II and the parts carried thereby may be set into any one of eleven different positions which correspond to positions I to 9, II and blank.

The side members of the frame ll may be spaced by spacing rods 2ll which may be located as shown in Fig.1, and which may be provided with saw cuts for securing plates or shelves 2i and 22 in position on the unit. The plate 2|, which is preferably made of non-conducting material, carries three conducting segments,- one of which corresponds to the position 0, another to the positions 2, 3 and 4, and the third to positions 6, I and 8. The plate, which is preferably also made of non-conducting material, carries four conducting segments, one of which corresponds to blank, another to digits l and 2, a third to digits 4, 5 and i, and the fourth to digits .8, 9 and I. These segments may be grounded indifferent positions of the shaft by means of a double armed brush 2!, such as shown in Fig. 5, which is in electrical contact with the shaft II to which it is secured. The shaft .il may be grounded through a conducting contact element 2, Fig. 2, which has a slip connection with a-conducting element 21 secured to a board frame, as disclosed in'said Haselton application referred to. Y

, tion Lgmundoverthesegment on thspiate 22 As indicated in Fig. 6, the leads to the stepping magnet I 6 and to the various segments carried by the plates 2I and 22 may be provided with slip connections to effect connections between the transmitter and the storage and coding device, and between the latter and the transmission channels extending to the decoder, as the storage unit is mounted on a board as in the Haselton application referred to.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I

have shown an ordinary operating key A which.

when depressed will complete a circuit through the slip connection H and over the coil of the operating magnet I6, to step the shaft II and brush ahead one step. By this means the shaft may-be moved into any one of its positions.

For the purpose of restoring the shaft to its .blank position before the setting-up operation is made, there is provided a key C which when closed will prepare a circuit from battery over the coil of relay B and across the slip connection I to the blank segment BL carried by the plate 22, which circuit will be completed after the shaft II has been moved to.bring the cooperating brush arm into contact with said "blank" segment BL. This causes the relay B to operateits armature and open the operating circuit for the magnet I6 and thus prevent movement beyond the blank position even if the operation of the key A is continued. The shaft may now, after releasing the key C, be adjusted to any desired position by operating the key A a number of times equal to the digit indicating such position.

As shown in Fig. 6, the segment on the plate 22 corresponding to positions 8, 9 and I) is connected to the slip joint J. The segment carried by the plate 2| corresponding to the positions 2, 3 and 4 is connected to the slip joint K over a resistance F, while the segment on the same plate corresponding to the positions 6, I and l is connected directly to said slip joint K. The segment on the plate 2I corresponding to the 0 position and the segment on the plate 22 corresponding to positions 4, 5 and 6 are connected to the slip joint L, and the segment on the latter plate corresponding to positions I and 2 is connected over a resistance G to said slip Joint L.- The slip Joints J, K and L connect the segments on the plates 2I and 22 over three wires to decoding relays I, 2, 3, 4 and I, as indicated in the upper portion of Fig. 6. The circuit J includes the relay I, the circuit K the relays 3 and 4 in series, and the circuit L relays I and 2 in series.

The relays 2 and 4 are marginal, that is, they are so adjusted that they will operate when one of the brushes connects direct ground to the lead feeding the relay but will. not operate when connected to ground through the resistances F and G. Relays I and 3, however, operate on either direct ground or ground through the resistances. These relays .may be operated to apply ground which is on the armature Ia of the relay I, to one terminal of the lamps I to I and II which when lighted indicate the position of the shaft II of the storage device shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the brushes are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the blank lamp BL will be lighted by a circuit from ground on the normal armature contact Id of relay I, over normal armature contact 311 of relay 3 and normal armature contact of relay 5. That is, the lamp BL will be lighted when the decoding relays are deenergized. When the brushes are in the posiaromas corresponding to positions I and 2 and over the resistance G and the slip connection L will cause the relay I to operate. The current is not sufflcient to energize the marginal relay 2. Relay I connects ground on its operated armature contact Ia, over the normal armature contact 30 of relay 3 and the normal armature contact 2a of relay 2 to one terminal of lamp I causing this lamp to light, which indicates that the shaft II is in position I.

When the brush arms are in position 2 the circuit referred to will operate relay l and a circuit made across the segment on the plate 2I corresponding to positions 2, 3 and 4, the resistance F, slip connection K and relays 3 and 4 will operate relay 3 but not relay 4. This will connect ground on the operated armature contact Id of' relay l,over the operated armature contact 3a of relay 3 and the normal armature contact 2b of relay 2, to one terminal of the lamp 2 causing this lamp to light.

In position 3, as will be apparentfrom an inspection of Fig. 6, the relay 3 alone will be energized and a circuit will be made from ground'on the unoperated armature contact Ia of relay I, over the operated armature contact 3b of relay 3 and the normal armature contact 4a of relay 4. to one terminal of the lamp 3 causing this lamp to llsht.

In position 4, relay 3 will again be operated and relays I and 2 will be operated bya circuit from ground across the brush and the segment on the plate 22 corresponding to positions 4, 5 and 6, and across the slip'joint L. This causes ground on the operated armature contact In. of relay I, over the operated armature contact 341 of relay 3, the operated armature contact 2b.

of relay 2 and the normal armature contact 4b of relay 4 to be appliedto one terminal of the lamp 4 causing this lamp to be lighted.

In position I, relays I and 2 will be energized applying ground to one terminal of the lamp I over the operated armature contact Ia of relay I,

normal armature contact 30. of relay 3, operated I armature contact 20. of relay 2 and normal armature contact 5a of relay 5, causing the lamp 5 to be lighted.

In position i, relays I and 2 and 3 and 4 will be energized applying ground to one terminal oI the lamp 6 over the operated armature contact In of relay I, operated armature contact 3a of relay 3, Operated armature contact 2b of relay 2 and operated armature contact 4b of relay 4,'causing the lamp 3 to light. y

In position I, relays 3 and 4 will be energized applying ground to one terminal of the lamp 1. over the normal armature contact Ia of relay I, operated armature contact 3b of relay 3, operated armature contact 4a of relay 4 and normal armature contact 51) of relay 5, causing the lamp 1 to I applying ground to one terminal of the lamp I.

over the normal armature contact Id of relay I, normal armature contact 3b of relay 3 and operated armature contact 5c of relay 5, causing the lamp I to light.

In position II, relay I and relays I and 2 will be energized applying ground to one terminal at the lamp ll over the operated armature contact in of relay I normal armature contact 30. of relay 3, operated armature contact 211 of relay 2 and operated armature contact in of relay 5, causing the 0 lamp to light.

The storage unit shown in Figs. 7 and B is generally the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and corresponding parts such as the frame, operating magnet, operating fork, the ratchet wheel, etc. are designated by the same reference characters as those used in Figs. 1 and 2. The settable shaft is indicated at Ila which, in this embodiment, carries six segments which may be suitably keyed on the shaft, these segments being designated as sl, s2, s3, s4, s5 and si in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. These segments are in electrical connection with the shaft l'la which is grounded to the supporting frame in the same manner as described in connection with Fig. 2. Cooperating with these segments are brushes designated respectively bl, b2, b3, b4, b5 and b6 in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, these brushes being shown diagrammatically by arrows I in Fig. 9.

The position of the segments in Fig. 9 corresponds to position I of the shaft Ila, these segments being rotatable counterclockwise step by step into positions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, I, 8, 9, 0 and blank. These segments in difierent positions of the indicator apply ground to various combinations of brushes bl to b6, according to the code table given in Fig. 11.

In position I segment si grounds brush bl" which, as indicated in Fig. 10, .closes a circuit from ground across the resistance G, slip connection L to one of the terminals of relays l and 2, causing the relay l to operate and apply ground The circuit to the decoder for position I of the shaft Ila. and the circuit to the lamp l in the second embodiment are exactly the same as in the first embodiment described in connection with the diagram shown in Fig. 6.

For position 2 of the shaft lla, ground on segment sl will cause the relay l of the decoder to operate as in position I, and ground on segment s5 over brush b5, resistance F and the slip connection K will cause the relay 3, Fig. 6, to operate without operating the marginal relay 4.

' These circuits for operating the decoder relays,

when the shaft is in position 2, are the same as in the first embodiment. The lamp 2 will be lighted by the same circuit as in the first embodiment.

In position 3 of the shaft Ila, ground on the segment and over the brush b5, resistance F and slip connection K will operate the relay 3 but not the marginal relay 4. This circuit for operating the decoder relays, when the shaft H0. is in position 3, is the same as in the first embodiment.

As is apparent from the code chart shown in Fig. 11, the circuits made over the slip connections J, K and L for any position of'the shaft Ila are the same as the circuits made for the same position of the shaft l l in the first embodiment. All of these circuits will pull up the same combinations of decoder relays and will operate the lamps.

b6 and slip connection I to the fixed contact of the switch C, Fig. 6. This switch C is closed when it is desired to move the shaft into its blank position, as described in connection with the first embodiment, to complete the circuit for the relay B at the time the shaft Ila moves into the blank position so as to open the circuit over which the operating impulses are transmitted by the key A to the operating magnet I6.

It is to be understood that the decoder and indicating mechanisms may, if desired, be permanently connected to the storage unit, or may be connected, when desired, to ascertain the position of the storage unit. This decoder and indicating mechanism may be located close to the storage unit or at a distant point. A series of indicating devices may be provided which may be arranged in any relation so as to build up numbers, if desired, which numbers may indicate prices of items such as the bid and ask prices of stock, rates of exchange, or the various range prices of stocks or prices of any other commodities, or may indicate or represent any attribute of any stock item or commodity. It is of course obvious that transmission from a plurality of storage units may be made to corresponding indicators simultaneously or successively by, known devices. If desired, provision may be made whereby subscribers may be provided with the required number of series of indicator lamps and in which switching connections, well known in the telephone art, may serve to permit the subscribers toconnect the series of lamps in their installations to any of a plurality of storage units in a central station. It is also to be understood that the circuits made across the decoder may be used to control the transmission of impulses to set up rotatable indicators or the like, if such type of indicator is preferred to the type of indicating means disclosed including a series of lamps.

While the invention has been shown in connection with mechanism and apparatus which operate successfully to carry out the principles of the invention and which disclose the principles of the invention, it is to be understood that various changes and substitutions may be made within the scope of this invention, and that any words of description imported into the claims from the specification shall be considered as words of description and not as words of limitation.

What I claim is:

1. A system for transmitting price information regarding stocks or other commodities, comprising a settable device rotatable into different positions respectively corresponding to one of the digits l to 9 and ll of said price, said settable device comprising two segmented distributor 'rings and two brushes respectively associated with said distributor rings for applying potentials to the segments thereof to transmit permutation code signals in accordance with the setting of the said device, a plurality of lines connected to said distributor rings, and means connected to said lines responsive to said permutation code signals for indicating the setting of the settable device.

2. The combination of a settable device adapted to be moved in one direction only to different positions, said device comprising two closed circular series of contacts and rotatable brushes for engaging the said contacts in accordance with a setting of the device, certain of said contacts being longer than others of the contacts thereby to engage one of the brushes in a plurality of diflerent positions of said brush corresponding to diil'erent settings of the settabie device, a first line connected to one of thecontacts of one of the series, a second line connected to two other contacts oi the other series, a third line connected to all but one of the remaining contacts 0! both series, means including said contacts and rotatable brushes for sending a. permutation code signal over said lines representative of the setting of the device, means connected to said three lines for decoding said signaL-and'means responsive to the decoded signal for indicating the setting of said settable device.

3. A system for receiving and coding information as to the digits l to 9 and 0 01' the price of a stock or other commodity, comprising a transmitter for sending step-by-step impulses corresponding to said digits. a coding indicator unit connected thereto adapted to take settings in I accordance with the digits represented by said step-by-step impulses, a line connecting said transmitter and said coding indicator unit, said coding indicator unit comprising a plurality of series of arcuately arranged segments for transmitting permutation code signals and for normalizing the indicator unit, rotatable brushes adapted to engage said segments in accordance with the setting of the said unit, a relay connected in circuit with one oi said segments for interrupting said line when said one 01 the segments is engaged by one of the rotatable brushes as the unit moves into its blank position, and means for controlling the operation of the said relay to reestablish the line.

' JOHN A. HERBST. 

